Sewing machine



Oct. 16, 1934. E, R THOMPSON 1,976,755

SEWING MACHINE Filed Deo. .16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l f Y l 55 o 57 N o.5'2

37 323s 54 v l 30 I f `4| 4 o E) 35 o 50 2q mi o V432/ l o 46 ,ez l iff"47 l 25 ,24 40T ff f.

INVENTJZ Oct. 16, 1934. E. R. THOMPSON 1,975,755

SEWING MACHINE Filed Deo. 16, .1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IN VEN 7' 01E E. R. THOMPSON SEWING MACHINE Oct. 16, 1934.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 16, 1932 Oct. 16o,V 1934. E, R, THQMPSON1,976,755.

SEWING MACHINE i Filed Deo. 16, 1932 4 sheets-Sheet `4 Y INVZ'NTOR LEwa@ www fio.

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 SEWING MACHINE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a sewing machineand more particularly toportable manually operated machines for sewingup the mouths of bags, especially after the'same have been filled.

-Oneof the'features of the invention is that the machinemay be supportedby the hand of an operator and moved across the top of a bag to beclosed whereby its cooperation with the bag will-causerthe machine tofunction.

' An object of the invention is to provide a bag sewing machine whichwill be relatively'light in weight, inexpensive in the cost ofmanufacture, whereby it may be used by small as well as large dealers,shippers or packers. The device is also comparatively small to permitits use without interference by a filled bag and should displaceexpensive and cumbersome equipment used in many plants at the presenttime.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a machine of the classdescribed of exceedingly simple construction having few moving parts sothat the likelihood of wear upon the machine is reduced to a minimum andso that the machine will have practically nothing to get out ofadjustment, butpermitting the same to be easily and readily `repaired orkparts replaced when necessary.. Y

The machine being itsvuse increases the efficiency-.and flexibility ofother manufacturing equipment and operations in any factory or packingestablishment.

.A further object of the invention is to provide a unique lstitchingmechanism.

-A stillv further object of theV invention is to provide means whichwill automatically sever the thread used in the sewing operations at thecompletion of such operations.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in thedetails of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and thenspeeically designated by the claims.

In order .that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same,'I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this application, in whichz- Fig. 1 is abottom plan View of a sewing machine constructed in accordancev with myinvention, with portions of the covers broken away to'show themechanism.

Fig. 2; is a. section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,.

with the machine in its proper position.

VFig. 3 ,is an end viewthereof lookingtoward.

portable as above outlined,

that end which carries the handle and the illustration showing themachine in its proper working position with a part of the covers brokenaway.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine looking toward the right handside of Fig. 1, but in an inverted position relative to Fig. 1.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are diagrammatic Views showing several positions ofthe needle during the sewing operations.

In carrying out the invention as herein embodied, the numeral representsthe frame work generally which includes two plates l1 and '12 havingadjacent edges spaced apart to provide a bag mouth receiving channel 13which may be tapered at one end as indicated at 14, so as to form a wideentrance to the channel. The two plates are rigidly held in theirrelative positions by a forked and arched handle 15 including a horn 16which is the grip, and if found desirable, said handle may include abridge piece 17 extending across said plates or appurtenances thereof,and said handle is held in place by suitable fastening devices 18, suchas screws, rivets or bolts and nuts; While not absolutely necessary,additional strengthening or bracing means 19 can be placed between theplates. y

For specicdescription, the sewing mechanism will be considered asmounted on the undersides ofthe plates, with the needle and its drivingparts carried by the plate on the operators right hand side, although itwill be understood that the mechanism can be mounted, the top Afaces ofthe plates and the positions of the several parts reversed when eitheron the bottom or top faces.

The plate 11 carries a wheel 20, generally known and hereinafter calledan idler which for convenience of illustration is shown mounted upon anaxle 21 depending from said plate 11. The idler may be of anydesirablesize, but when mounted its periphery must travel across the channel 13so that a bag in said channel can contact the idler. The circumferenceof the idler must be of suitable frictional material and is preferably asoft rubber tired wheel.

On the other plate 12 is mounted'a similar wheel 22 which is the drivewheel and for convenience of illustration it is shown journalled upon anaxle 23 fixed in the plate l2. The drive wheel 22 is of any desirablesize, but is positioned so that its periphery travels across the channel13 and when no sewing is being done, the circumferences of the drivewheel and idler should contact each other. .Also like the idler, saiddrive Wheel 22 has a suitable frictional material about gunire STATESPAT-:eur oFFice its periphery and should be compressible wherefore asoit rubber tired wheel is very good for this purpose.

Connected with the drive wheel 22 so as to revolve therewith is anelement of a suitable motion transmitting mechanism, such as a sprocketwheel 24 having a chain 25 running over the same and over a drivensprocket 26 journalled upon another axle 27 carried by the plate 1,2,which axle 27 is connected with a bevel gear 28 for revolving thelatter. The bevel gear 28 meshes with a bevel pinion 29 which is mountedon an axle 30 supported in any suitable manner by the plate l2 as by atrestle bar 30 and said axle is located in an oblique position relativeto the axle 27 or said axle 30 is oblique to any imaginary perpendicularline having the plates n as the base.

The pinion 29 revolves a crank 31 here shown as a disc for the purposeof balance. If the axle 30 is revolvable then both the crank and thepinion are xed to said axle, but if said axle 30 is stationary then thecrank means and vpinion are so connected that they will revolvetogether.

The idler and drive wheel are mounted in the same plane, and as abovepointed out, they have a peripheral contact at a point between the twoframe plates, therefore as the machine is passed over the mouth of abag, said idler and drive wheel will engage the same and be revolved.Upony revolving the drive wheel 22, motion will be transmitted to thecrank means 31 from said drive wheel 22 through the sprocket 24, chain25, sprocket 26, gear 28 and pinion 29, and said parts are the preferredmotivating means for the sewing mechanism.

The rubber rims of the idler and driving wheel have a number of specificpurposes among which are: to clamp the material being sewn withoutdistorting the same; to impart a smooth driving action or motion to thesewing mechanism; and to facilitate the passage of the bag closer overthe mouth of a bag without the likelihood ofspreading or separating theframe members.

In actual practice the bevel pinion is atan angle at about forty-iivedegrees to the bevel gear and a line through the center of rotation ofsaid pinion will intersect a line between the centers of the sprockets.This'makes the plane Tiof the pinion, as the operator sees it, slope upand to the right at about forty-five degrees to a vertical lineperpendicular to the plate 12.

A needle 32 of the latch type having a pointed end 33 with a hook 34just to the rear there of having a latch 35 coacting therewith to formends in an eyelet or needle guide 38 which becomes the fulcrum for saidneedle. 'Saideye-A let, needle vguide or fulcrum is supported by anysuitable bracket 39 carried by` the frame yand more particularly bytheplate 12. The loc-ation l of the ulcrum 38 is underneath the largersprock` et 24 adjacent the channel 13. Where the crank means 3l isactually a lever and'V even possibly' with the disc arrangement, thereshould be al counterbalance means diametrically opposite the.

universal joint 37. i

n1 the path of travei of the needle and mount# ed on the edge of theplate 12 which formsrone side of the channel 13 is a jaw 40 formedviromav iiat strip of metal having an oisetrear end asf .I indicated at 41and in this oiset portion is formed' a notch 42. Also mounted in thepath of travel of the needle and in cooperative relation to the jaw andmounted on the edge of the plate 11 which forms the other side of thechannel 13 is a movable jaw 43 having a free end terminating short of orin the region of the notch 42 in the rst named or stationary jaw 40.Said movable jaw is also made from a strip of .dat metal butthis-particular jaw must be resilient so that its free end'will contactwith the stationary jaw 40 for apurpose to be presently described, andsaid free end of the movable jaw 43 is also ofiyset as at 44.

Both of the jaws 40 and 43 have apertures 45 therethrough for thepassage of the needle and said apertures must be of a size that willpermit oi a circular movement which is substantially elliptical and inan inclined plane.

A spool, ball or other supply of thread may be mounted in any suitableplace upon the machine or it may be hung on some outside support, suchas a wall, or it may be allowed to rest upon the floor, but the threadstrand from said supply passing through suitable devices to retard thetravel of the thread and a portion thereofis held in a straight linecrosswise of the path of travel oi the needle so as to bepicked up bysaid needle, and for purposes of illustration, I have shown a threadtensioning device 46 which may be a spring wire 47 having an eye 48. Thethread therefore is run from the point of supply through the eye 48thence through a guide 49 and through the aperture 45 in the movablejaw, and then between the offset ends of the two jaws.

At a suitable location between the fulcrum point 38 and the jaws 40 and43, is located a pin or post 50, its actual location is just short ofthe limit of the inward stroke of the needle point so that said needlepoint must pass around said post in approximately a semi-circle.

By reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the operations of the needle in makingthe stitch will be obvious and in these views 51 represents the threadwhich runs from a source of supply` through the thread guide 49, thenthrough the aperture 45 in the movable spring jaw 43, thence between theoffset portions of both jaws where it is clamped, leaving a short freeend hanging loose. Since the thread is under some tension there is astraight section that lies in the path of travel of the point of theneedle, between the thread guide 49 and the movable jaw, and said needlepoint may be curved slightly toward the latch side as in Fig. 8, andalso slightly toward the front end of the machine when the needle haspiercedY the article being stitched and the second mentioned curve islocated at an angle to the other curve of about ninety degrees as inFig; 6.

To stitch a bag, the operator holds the machine with the right hand andintroduces one ear of a bag to be closed in the channel between thetraction wheels 20 and 22 with the left hand. He then holds the machinestill long enough to permit him to let go of the bag with his left handtov use the same for straightening the 'mouth by tugging on the otherear. He then again grasps the ear which was introduced into the machineand holds it steady while he draws the machine toward himself over thebag with a slightly downward motion so that the machine will not run oirthe mouth of the bag. As the machine is drawn over the bag, motion willbe transmitted to` the needle as abovev outlined and the point of saidneedle will be projected through the parts of the bagmouth which areheld closely together bythe jaws and backed up by one of them untilV theneedle assumes the approximate position shown in Fig.'6. vDuring thisforward movement of the needle through the bag, its latch will be openedpermitting the hook to pick up the thread. As the needle is withdrawnfrom the bag carrying the thread with it', the latter will be closed tofacilitate passage of the needle through the bag in a reverse directionto prevent accidental displacement of the thread as shown in Fig. 7.

Thereafter the 'point of the needle will pass around the post 50 inorder to hold back on the thread and permit the needle to pass throughthe loop produced by twisting the thread due to the turning of theneedle on its longitudinal axis. The further movement of the needle willcause the point thereof to vbe again projected through the bag mouthand. these operations will continue until the mouth of the bag iscompletely stitched from end to end@ By virtue of the method of mountingthe needle and'its passing through-a denitely placed needle guide 'orfulcrurn, it will be caused to oscillate throughthe bag once everyrevolution of the bevel pinion. The universal joint allows -it to varyits angle with the plane of the bevel pinion but causes-it to make acomplete revolution on its longitudinal'axis during every revolution ofthe bevel pinion and its passage' through the bag. The needle guide isso located as to cause the pointed or ysewing end of the needle to movethrough a generally circularorbit while piercing and withdrawing fromthe bag. This movement not only accomplishes the projection andwithdrawal Aof the needle, but also compensates for the travel of themachine over the bag. The needle guide, by being-off the centerline ofrotation of the bevel pinion, produces the oscillatory movement vofthelneedle as the pinion rotates.

As the needlel enters the fabric, the pinion and` its associated crankmeans will be startingl into the lower halfof the travel of the needleand the open hook of the needle will be towards the front end of themachine. The continued movement of the parts will cause the needle torotate on its longitudinal a'X'is so that the hook will turn upward toengage the thread. During the withdrawal movement of the needle, thehook will be turned toward the rear end of the machine carrying a loopof thread with it. As the crank means turns through the upper half ofits travel, the needle turns another one hundred and eighty degrees onits longitudinal axis so that when it again enters the fabric the threadis looped around it and remains on the near side of the bag. Upon thenext withdrawal of the needle with a new loop, the first loopl is incontact with the back of the needle or that part opposite hook and latchpermitting the new loop to be drawn through the first one therebyforming a chain stitch with a single thread. The above operations willcontinue until the rear part of the bag being sewn passes beyond thepath of travel of the needle.

During the passage of the bag through the channel, the forward end ofthe bag mouth will engage a finger 52 which normally lies across thechannel just beyond the free end of the movable jaw and said finger iscarried by a knife 53 pivoted in any suitable manner as in a bracket 54forming a part of the machine frame and said knife is normally held in aposition across the channel and into the notch 42 in the -l stationaryjaw 40 by means of a spring 55 having one end anchored to the frame asat 56, while the end is connected to an arm 57 carried by the knife.`

The engagement of the mouth of the bag with the finger 53 will move thelatter to one side and therefore swing the knife out of the path oftravelof the bag and against the action of the spring 55. After the bagis completely closed and the machine is passed over it, the springcauses the knife or cutter to snap back and sever the thread between thebag and the point where said thread is clamped between the two jaws, andthis backward movement of the knife is limited by the finger 52 strikingagainst the stop 58, which for purposes of illustration, is shown as apart of the bracket 39 and the latter is a part of the machine frame.

To insure smooth travel over the bag, a cover 59 is placed over themechanism and in the instance shown depends from the frame with a slot60 therethrough coincident with the channel 13. It will be obvious thatsaid cover may be in two sections so that their adjacent edges will formthe passageway 60. The cover should be so connected with the machineframe that it can be readily removed whenever repairs or replacementsare necessary.

By placing the drive on the top side of the frame or on the upper facesof the plates 11 and 12, the covering can be eliminated but in this caseit will be necessary to add guide wheels having traction treads toprevent the bag from becoming distorted by the pull of the operator asany distortion of the bag will cause a bending force on the needle. Thiscan be done by making the wheel on the thread side of the machineintegral, concentric, and of the saine diameter as the traction wheel onthat side, while the cornpanion traction wheel, the one on the needleside, should be of smaller diameter and should be hung to run freely inan additional bracket on the present structure. This construction isnecessary to `avoid interference with the needle.

In practice, the largest practical gear reduction between the drivingwheels and the small bevel pinion does not allow as fine a stitch as isnecessary in bagging some commodities. This condition can be overcome byusing a small electric motor mounted on the machine frame so that powercould be transferred to the gear train at l an intermediate point to betransmitted in two directions viz. to drive the needle and to propel themachine across the bag. Such a construction makes possible the moreflexible use of gear ratios, and the machine may thus be designed tomake smaller stitches.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described as these may be varied withinthe limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis:-

l. A sewing machine comprising a frame having lili a channel for thereception of the object to be 2. In a portable sewing machine, a framehavf ing a channel therethrough for the reception of the article to bestitched, a needle. and meansto cause the point of the needle to moveacross the channel in a generally circular orbit inclined relative tothe path of travel of said article and at la.,

the same time revolve the needle about its 1ongitudinal axis.

3. The structure in claim 2, in combination with jaws located in thechannel to guide the article through a portion of said channel and clampthe thread as the article passes beyond said jaws.

4. In a portable sewing machine, a pair of spaced plates in the sameplane constituting a frame with a channel therethrough, means wherebythe frame may be lifted by an operator and passed over an article to bestitched with parts of said article within the channel, said means alsoholding the plates in their spaced relation, a pair of traction wheelswith rubber circumferences carried by theV frame and having peripheralcontact at a point in the channel, a driving sprocket wheel connectedwith one of said traction wheels and revolvable therewith, a drivensprocket wheel mounted on the frame with its center in line with thecenters of the traction wheels, a chain runningover said sprockets, abevel gear connected with the driven sprocket wheel and revolubletherewith, a bevel pinion mounted in the frame with its axis oblique tothe axis of the gear so that its center line-of rotation intersects aline between the centers of the sprockets, a crank element carried bythe pinion and revolving therewith in a parallel plane thereto, astationary jaw secured to oneof the plates and located in the channeland having an offset portion, a spring jaw having one end only securedto the other plate and coacting with the other jaw for guiding thearticle being stitched, the free end of said'spring jaw having an offsetterminus for contact with the offset portion of said stationary jaw toclamp a thread, both lof said jaws having aligned apertures, a needleguide between the crank element and said jaws, a latch needle having oneend attached to the crank element by a universal joint and fulcrumed inthe needle guide whereby the point of said needle will move across thechannel in a generally circular orbit inclined relative to the plane ofthe work and through the apertures in the jaws and also said needle willrevolve on its longitudinal axis, a post located between the needleguide and said jaws about which the point of the needle turns at itsinnermost position for ylooping a thread, means to guide the threadwhereby a portion thereof will be held between said guide and theclamping parts of the jaws in the path of travel of the needle to behooked thereby, and means for providing a tension on the thread.

5. The structure in claim 4, in combination with a pivoted threadcutter, means normally swinging said cutter into a notch in thestationary jaw forward of the thread clamping portions of the jaws,means connected with the cutter whereby it may be withdrawn from thenotch by engagement with the article being stitched, and a stop to limitthe movement of the cutter after being disengaged from said article.

, 6. A machine of the class described comprising a frame having achannel for the reception of the article to be operated upon, a needle,and means to cause a portion of the needle to bodily move in a conicalpath of travel and simultaneously reciprocate and rotate, said rotationbeing on its own longitudinal axis.

. '7. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a channeltherethrough for the reception of the article to be stitched, a needle,means 10U to cause the point of the needle to move across the channel ina generally circular orbit inclined relative to the path of travel ofsaid article and at the same time revolve the needle upon its ownlongitudinal axis, jaws located in the channel to guide the articlethrough a portion of said channel, said jaws having aperturestherethrough for the passage of the needle and also functioning asguides for the thread, and a thread guiding means separate and distinctfrom said jaws. il@

' 8. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a channel forthe reception of the article to be operated upon, a straight needlehaving a pointed end to penetrate the article to be operated on andfurther provided with a hook adjacent the pointed end to pick up athread in forming a stitch, and means to cause the pointed end of theneedle to move in a conical path of travel and simultaneouslyreciprocate and to rotate, said rotation being on the longitudinal axisof said needle.

ELLIOTT R. THOMPSON.

